The Taliban Shuffle Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan In the deeply dysfunctional countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, a true-life Catch-22 unfolds, as one of the region's longest-serving correspondents, Kim Barker, delivers an insider's account of the forgotten war in this region. In "The Taliban Shuffle," Barker offers a candid and self-deprecating narrative that is both laugh-out-loud funny and gravely concerning. This book chronicles the years after America's initial routing of the Taliban, when we failed to finish the job, leaving the region in disarray. Upon arrival in Kabul, Barker finds foreign aid at a record low, electricity a pipe dream, and few remaining foreign troops not allowed out after dark. As the Taliban regroups, the Afghan and Pakistani governments flounder, and Barker witnesses the disorienting turnover of diplomatic staff. She is pursued romantically by the former prime minister of Pakistan, while her adrenaline-fueled colleagues disappear into the clutches of the Taliban. Despite her growing love for these hapless countries, Barker's hopes for their stability and security fade. Swift, funny, and wholly original, "The Taliban Shuffle" captures the absurdities and tragedies of life in a war zone. The book provides a unique perspective on the ongoing conflict in this region, highlighting the need to study and understand the process of technology evolution as the basis for humanity's survival and the unification of people in a warring state.

''